Display/vending carton

Abstract

A carton with an improved dispensing feature at one end of the carton, which preserves the integrity of the carton, while enabling the display and enhanced access and vending of containers within the carton.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of opening a carton containing a plurality of containers disposed on their container sides in at least one row when the carton is in an unopened configuration; the carton including six sides; the six sides including a top panel connected along a portion of a first fold line to an end of the carton, a first side panel foldably connected to at least the top panel, and a second side panel foldably connected to at least the top panel, the end comprising a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a respective portion of the first fold line, a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a respective portion of the first fold line, and a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel at a respective portion of the first fold line, the top panel, the first side end flap, and the first side panel at least partially forming a first corner of the carton, and the top panel, the second side end flap, and the second side panel at least partially forming a second corner of the carton; the carton including a dispensing feature defined at least partially by tear line segments, including at least a first tear line segment, a second tear line segment, and a third tear line segment; the first tear line segment intersects the first corner and extends away from the first corner to a first turning point in the first side end flap such that the first tear line segment is spaced apart from each of the top panel and the first side panel and each respective portion of the first fold line in the first side end flap, and the first tear line segment intersects the second corner and extends away from the second corner to a second turning point in the second side end flap such that the first tear line segment is spaced apart from each of the top panel and the second side panel in the second side end flap and each respective portion of the first fold line, the first tear line segment extending parallel to the first side panel and the second side panel from the first turning point and from the second turning point, the first side panel being foldably connected to the top panel along at least the second tear line segment, the second side panel being foldably connected to the top panel along at least the third tear line segment, the second tear line segment extending from the first corner, and the third tear line segment extending from the second corner; the dispensing feature including at least a portion of the first fold line and extending at least partially in the top panel and at least partially in the end; the method comprising:
 resting the carton on a surface to dispose the top panel at a top of the carton over the plurality of containers with the container sides of the plurality of containers being parallel the top panel; 
 separating the dispensing feature along the first tear line segment in the end by pulling the dispensing feature upwardly; and 
 separating the dispensing feature in the top panel after the first tear line segment in the end is separated; 
 wherein every container of the plurality of containers disposed in the carton in the unopened configuration is retained in the carton after separating the dispensing flap from the end. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein an engagement portion is disposed adjacent the dispensing feature. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the engagement portion is connected along a finger flap fold line to the dispensing feature. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing feature can remain attached to the carton when the opening is formed. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing feature can be entirely removed from the carton. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the carton is made from paperboard. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein structural integrity of the carton is maintained after the opening is formed. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the containers are cylindrical. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one line of weakness extends across the top panel. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one row comprises a plurality of rows, and an endmost container of each row of the plurality of rows that is adjacent the dispensing feature is disposed in parallel stacked relation after separating the dispensing flap from the end. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein an engagement portion is disposed adjacent the dispensing feature in the end and is spaced apart from the top panel, and the separating the dispensing feature along the first tear line segment in the end comprises pushing the engagement portion prior to the pulling the dispensing feature upwardly. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tear line segments define a lateral portion and the finger flap extends from the lateral portion to the finger flap fold line, and the separating the dispensing feature along the first tear line segment in the end comprises separating the finger flap from the end along at least the lateral portion. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one row comprises at least a first row, a second row, and a third row, the second row being stacked on the first row and the third row being stacked on the second row. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the end is a first end, the six sides further include a second end disposed opposite to the first end, the top panel, the second end, and the first side panel at least partially form a third corner of the carton, the second tear line segment extends from the first corner to the third corner, the top panel, the second end, and the second side panel at least partially form a fourth corner of the carton, and the third tear line segment extends from the second corner to the fourth corner. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one row of containers is a plurality of stacked rows of containers, and a front container of each of the stacked rows of containers is retained by the end of the carton after separating the dispensing flap from the end. 
     
     
       16. An enclosed carton for a plurality of containers disposed on their container sides in at least one row when the carton is in an unopened configuration, the plurality of containers including a first container, the carton comprising:
 six sides including a top panel connected along a portion of a first fold line to an end of the carton, a first side panel foldably connected to at least the top panel, and a second side panel foldably connected to at least the top panel, the end comprising a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a respective portion of the first fold line, a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a respective portion of the first fold line, and a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel at a respective portion of the first fold line, the top panel, the first side end flap, and the first side panel at least partially forming a first corner of the carton, and the top panel, the second side end flap, and the second side panel at least partially forming a second corner of the carton; 
 a dispensing feature defined at least partially by tear line segments in the top panel and in the end, the tear line segments including at least a first tear line segment extending in the end, a second tear line segment extending from the first corner, and a third tear line segment extending from the second corner, the first tear line segment intersects the first corner and extends away from the first corner to a first turning point in the first side end flap such that the first tear line segment is spaced apart from each of the top panel and the first side panel and each respective portion of the first fold line in the first side end flap, and the first tear line segment intersects the second corner and extends away from the second corner to a second turning point in the second side end flap such that the first tear line segment is spaced apart from each of the top panel and the second side panel and each respective portion of the first fold line in the second side end flap, the first tear line segment extending parallel to the first side panel and the second side panel from the first turning point and from the second turning point, the first side panel being foldably connected to the top panel along at least the second tear line segment, and the second side panel being foldably connected to the top panel along at least the third tear line segment; the dispensing feature including at least a portion of the first fold line and extending at least partially in the top panel and at least partially in the end; 
 wherein, when the carton is rested on a surface to dispose the top panel at a top of the carton over the plurality of containers with the container sides of the plurality of containers being parallel the top panel, an opening is formed by separating the dispensing feature at least partially along the tear line segments in the top panel and at least partially along the tear line segments in the end; 
 an engaging portion in the end, the engaging portion comprising a finger flap at least partially defined by at least one of the tear line segments and a finger flap fold line extending in the dispensing feature in the end; the engaging portion capable of being gripped and pulled upwardly to separate the dispensing feature along the tear line segments in the end; and 
 after the tear line segments in the end are separated, the dispensing feature continues to be separated along the tear line segments in the top panel; 
 wherein every container of the plurality of containers disposed in the carton in the unopened configuration is retained in the carton after separating the engaging portion from the end. 
 
     
     
       17. The carton of  claim 16  wherein the dispensing feature can remain attached to the carton when the opening is formed. 
     
     
       18. The carton of  claim 16  wherein the dispensing feature can be entirely removed from the carton. 
     
     
       19. The carton of  claim 16  wherein the carton is made from paperboard. 
     
     
       20. The carton of  claim 16  wherein structural integrity of the carton is maintained after the opening is formed. 
     
     
       21. The carton of  claim 16  wherein the containers are cylindrical. 
     
     
       22. The carton of  claim 16  wherein at least one line of weakness extends across the top panel. 
     
     
       23. The carton of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one row comprises a plurality of rows, and an endmost container of each row of the plurality of rows that is adjacent the dispensing feature is disposed in parallel stacked relation after separating the dispensing feature from the end. 
     
     
       24. The carton of  claim 16 , wherein the tear line segments define a lateral portion and the finger flap extends from the lateral portion to the finger flap fold line, the finger flap being separable from the end along at least the lateral portion. 
     
     
       25. The carton of  claim 24 , wherein the lateral portion and the finger flap fold line are parallel to the container sides of the plurality of containers. 
     
     
       26. The carton of  claim 16 , wherein the engaging portion is spaced apart from the top panel. 
     
     
       27. The carton of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one row comprises at least a first row, a second row, and a third row, the second row being stacked on the first row and the third row being stacked on the second row. 
     
     
       28. The carton of  claim 16 , wherein the end is a first end, the six sides further include a second end disposed opposite to the first end, the top panel, the second end, and the first side panel at least partially form a third corner of the carton, the second tear line segment extends from the first corner to the third corner, the top panel, the second end, and the second side panel at least partially form a fourth corner of the carton, and the third tear line segment extends from the second corner to the fourth corner. 
     
     
       29. The carton of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one row of containers is a plurality of stacked rows of containers, and a front container of each of the stacked rows of containers in the unopened configuration is retained by the end of the carton after separating the dispensing feature from the end.